Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2008-09: Michael Houser began the year with the Little Caesar’s midget program before joining the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers. Splitting the goaltending duties with Aaron Crandall for the Eastern Conference’s last-place Buccaneers, he was 5-18 with a 4.02 goals against and .902 save percentage.

2009-10: Houser played 25 games for the OHL’s London Knights as a backup to Michael Hutchinson (BOS). He was 17-5 with 1 loss in overtime and had a 3.10 goals against and .900 save percentage. The Knights were first in the Midwest Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Houser made three relief appearances in the playoffs and in 53 minutes of action had a 7.92 goals against and .821 save percentage. He was ranked 11th amongst North American goaltenders in Central Scouting’s final rankings but was not selected in the 2010 NHL Draft.

2010-11: Houser attended the Vancouver Canucks training camp before returning to London for his second OHL season. Taking over as the Knights’ starter, he played 54 games and was 30-24 with five losses in overtime. He had one shutout and posted a 3.32 goals against and .904 save percentage. London finished fifth in the Midwest Division and Houser was 2-4 with a 2.71 goals against and .940 save percentage in the six-game playoff series with eventual OHL champion Owen Sound.

2011-12: Houser skated in the Flyers’ camp before returning to London for a third OHL season. He was named the CHL Goalie of the Year as the Knights captured the OHL championship and reached the Memorial Cup. Hauser was 46-16 with six shutouts in 62 regular season games and had a 2.47 goals against and .925 save percentage. In 19 playoff games he was 16-3 with 1 shutout and had a 2.25 goals against and .928 save percentage. In four games at the Memorial Cup he was 2-2 and had a 2.58 goals against and .904 save percentage. Houser signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Panthers in July, 2012.

2012-13: Houser made the jump from juniors to pro hockey as a 20-year-old; playing for the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones. Splitting time with former UNH goalie and fellow Panthers’ prospect Brian Foster during the regular season, he was 17-10-2 with 2 shutouts and had a 2.55 goals against and .917 save percentage in 29 games. Cincinnati finished first in the North Division and reached the Eastern Conference Finals. Houser started all 17 playoff games and was 9-8 with 1 shutout; posting a 2.24 goals against and .915 save percentage.

2013-14: Houser split his second pro season between Florida AHL affiliate San Antonio and the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones. In 28 games for the Rampage he was 12-13-1 with one shutout and had a 3.05 goals against and .903 save percentage. San Antonio missed the AHL playoffs after finishing last in the West Division. Houser was with Cincinnati in the middle of the season and was 5-6-1 with one shout, posting a 2.24 goals against and .924 save percentage. He was not with Cincinnati during it’s playoff run to the Kelly Cup finals.

Talent Analysis

Houser’s determination, effort and work ethic were well-established during his junior career. The former CHL Goaltender of the Year plays an aggressive style in the net and makes big saves by using his excellent reads. Though not as tall as the current NHL goaltender model, he battles with the best of them and makes up for physical limitations with superb concentration and a calm demeanor.

Future

Houser is in his third pro season in 2014-15 and is currently backing up veteran Dan Ellis with Florida AHL affiliate San Antonio. With an influx of young talent the Rampage are challenging for an AHL playoff spot under first-year coach Tom Rowe. Houser's opportunities, however, have been limited with the play of Ellis and he has battled to maintain consistency. Still only 22 years old, Houser should continue to develop but early long-term projections of him one day starting at the NHL level are less certain at this point.

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Photo: Rocco Grimaldi has scored 35 points in 51 games for the Rampage in his rookie season as a professional hockey player (Courtesy of Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

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